Film to Print – Comic Coverage: The Howling: Revenge of the Werewolf Queen #2

Micky Neilson and Jason Johnson keep the horror escalating for the second issue of The Howling: Revenge of the Werewolf Queen. If you read my recently posted review (right here) of the first issue of this book you know I’m in love with it. Seeing Neilson and Johnson follow the rules of horror, and amplify the insanity for issue #2 with far more bloodshed, far more intrigue, story details and a far more desperate Chris Halloran, then you understand my excitement hasn’t subsided in the least bit. The story is evolving into a real meat-on-the-bones story, as opposed to a predictable extension of the film, and that’s exactly what fans are going to be drawn to.

To bring you up to speed as much as possible (again, we don’t like to spoil stories, around here), Marsha is still roaming the big city, and Chris isn’t her only target. In fact, he’s only one piece of the puzzle. But the fate of mankind teeters in interesting territory; Is Marsha out to silence those who worked for KDHP and broadcast the incriminating and gut-wrenching debacle that Karen herself set in motion, or is there a larger picture drawing itself within Marsha’s mind? What are her true motivations in Los Angeles, and who will die next?

Neilson laid an amazing foundation in the first issue of this series, and now he and his talented partner in crime, Johnson, have the chance to carve out their own sliver of a legacy by venturing in an entirely original direction. And it’s working. The horror has deepened so much that gore hounds are going to go ape for the book, but Neilson hasn’t lost sight of the ultimate goal, which is to tell an enthralling story that transfers characters from a page to the mind and imagination of the reader. We’re only growing more attached to Chris. We’re only more curious to see how far Marsha can run with her grand scheme.

While issue #1 was clearly designed to appease those who adore Joe Dante’s film, issue #2 sets out on a quest to solidify its own identity. We’re not just living in 1981 anymore, we’re now moving forward into the great unknown, where things can be even more terrifying than already familiar grotesqueries. And that’s how the story is shaping up – original and absorbing. Still loyal to the tale we know and love, Revenge of the Werewolf Queen is becoming its very own monster, and as brutal and merciless as that monster is, it’s as addictive as nicotine. Please, Space Goat, get that third issue sent my way as soon as humanly possible. The need for more of the Werewolf Queen is already tickling my imagination in a frightening way!

If you took my advice and grabbed issue #1 of this series, then chances are extremely good you’re as hooked as I am. Don’t hesitate to get your hands on issue #2 – it is no doubt the continuation you’re hoping for!